shape
carat
color
clarity

Wedding 24 hour countdown tips

Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.

NYCsparkle

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jul 23, 2006
Messages
1,380
I know there are a lot of brides to be and i found these simple tips on what not to do the night before the wedding.

1. Bloat-proof your belly. Don''t spoil the perfect fit of your dress! Avoid anything salty -- from pickles and fast food to Chinese takeout -- for at least 24 hours before saying "I do." Limit carbonated beverages too, which can be salty and gassy. You don''t want to be bloated and burping! That makes for an attractive bride and embarrasing vows.

2. Get lots of sleep. Forget all-night gabfests with your bridesmaids the night before. Instead, have a nice warm bath and, if possible, a gentle massage. Kinda hungry? Have some chamomile tea (mildly sedating) with a drizzle of honey (makes you less alert) and a banana (two sleep inducers and a muscle relaxant). No one wants bags under their eyes on the big day.


3. Create a caffeine-free zone. If you need wake-up coffee in the morning, fine. But then stop. Stock up on iced herbal teas, fruit juices, and bottled water. If you''ve got jitters, caffeine will make them worse, plus it''s a diuretic so it''ll make you pee a lot (no easy feat in a wedding dress) and could lead to dehydration -- a serious energy sapper.

4. Space out the alcohol. Weddings often mean a nonstop flow of celebratory champagne, wine, and cocktails. But you need to be dazzling, not dim (and definitely not dehydrated, sleepless, or hung over -- all risks of an open bar). So.The night before: Give yourself a two-drink limit. Or stick with wine spritzers (ask for more club soda than wine).
The wedding breakfast: Skip the mimosas and sparkle up your OJ with seltzer.
The reception toasts: Sip your champagne, don''t empty the glass. Pace yourself through to the cake cutting and bouquet tossing. Drunk brides are just plain sloppy and trashy.

5. Eat something! There may be tons of food, but it''s easy for busy brides not to get a bite. To keep your energy up, hunger down, and tummy flat, go for the fish, chicken, and salads -- but have a plan B: Ask your maid of honor to stash an energy bar or some Brazil nuts in her purse. Just six nuts give you four grams of protein and some healthy fat, a combo that will keep you going far longer than you''d think. Not for your whole life, of course, but that''s what the rest of the day is about!


 
Thanks for posting this. I''m sure it''ll be helpful!
 
My college roomate was a bit of a nervous person anyway and she didn''t eat enough in the morning. During the ceremony, you could see something was going wrong, and the minister and groom were focusing on the bride, next thing you know, she started to slump and the groom shifted her to the minister, who promptly shifted her back to the groom and she fainted at the altar! She was so white she matched her gown.- They sat down at the closest pew, waited a few minutes and finished the ceremony sitting down. She was such a shy person and was mortified at the reception for all the commotion. So ladies--EAT!
 
thanks for posting this-
i am going to print out and save.
i was just having this conversation with my sister who thinks it would be great fun to have a slumber party at my house the night before the wedding.
i only have 1 spare room, and i think we''re all a little too old to sleep on the floor/couch, especially before such an important day.
i need to be well rested, and so do they, so hopefully i didn''t hurt her feelings, but we are going to have a looong day and i want to enjoy every minute!
 
Well ladies, having JUST gone thru this, i have this to say

1) EAT--yes, you want to look perfect, but what you look like a few days before the wedding is pretty much what you''ll look like--so eat. I was so busy I literally forgot. Luckily my BM''s made sure I had some protein in the AM--i had NO appetite, but forced it down. The worst part of it is that my dress was getting bigger by the day--i had to stuff the boobs to fill it in and even that didn''t work too well--i would rather the few pounds for sure!

2) (try to) SLEEP--my party all stayed in a condo the night before the wedding--sorta a slumber party. They were not the problem, my excitement was. I was totally wide awake till 4:30 and then i think i dozed off sometime after that....again, not good. However, i did prop my head up on two pillows so that my lack of sleep would not present it''s self as dark bags under my eyes--and it worked.

3) If you have not heeded advice 1 and 2--don''t drink--no sleep and no food = instant groggy buzz and upset stomache. Get something in there first.

4) Get as much orgtanized and finalized as possible the day before the wedding (delegate!) so your nerves are put at ease and you CAN sleep and eat just fine! This is the best advice i can give
 
I agree with all those rules... and I think it''s definitely worth thinking about in advance! A lot of our friends joined us at the restaurant after our rehearsal dinner, so it turned into a LATE night... but my best friend and her sister were sleeping over (in a spare room, to ensure a good night''s sleep!) so they made sure to get me home by midnight and I ended up with about 7 hours sleep, fortunately. I''m prone to stomach problems, so the next day I stuck with bagels and other mild food, and drank LOTS of water... when I get dehydrated, I get all tired and dizzy and irritable.

Also, this is probably TMI, but right before the ceremony I had to pee like 3 times... so I started just shoving a cup under all my layers of dress, rather than trying to squeeze into a tiny bathroom stall. Kind of gross, but it worked!! Don''t knock it ''til you''ve tried it...
2.gif


At the reception, I nursed one glass of champagne all night and ate about 1/3rd of my meal... but I was running on adrenaline anyway. I was STARVING by about 3am though, when we finally went to bed... I would have killed for some pizza or something. So if possible, have a snack put in your hotel room!
 
good advice about the snack in the room!

The next morning at our wedding brunch I ate SO much--i was back to my old self


LOL--the cup--that''s funny Eph--what we girls go thru eh!?
 
Great tips! Thank you!!

At my shower last week, I totally learned the no-more-than-two-drinks-per-night rule
9.gif
31.gif
20.gif
32.gif


Now, the cup thing.............may I ask how nervous you were that...uh...you''d miss? (I know........euuuuuuuuuu!!!
14.gif
!......but it sounds so convieient if not for that one teensey worry
2.gif
)
 
I was married two weeks ago, and that two drink minimum is actually a great idea. I was pretty stone sober at my reception but had the most amazing time. I have a very weak stomach, so I took some immodium in the morning, and then ate a normal-smallish amount for lunch and dinner (we thought having a sweetheart table would mean that we could enjoy a meal together! no such luck), but here''s my tip: ask your caterer to pack up some of your meal - in our case, we knew we wouldn''t be able to enjoy the amazing homemade tortilla chips and salsa from our cocktail hour. Before we were ready to go, our caterer descreetly boxed up some items on our request for us to take back to the hotel. When we got back to our suite, the hotel had strawberries and champagne waiting for us, but we dined on our tortilla chips to make up for the meal we missed. I''ve heard of even asking for the entire meal in boxes - many of my friends say that they never even tasted a bite of their dinner (and actually, i did only get two bites of wedding cake...bummer).
 
Date: 7/6/2007 10:17:01 AM
Author: ephemery1
I agree with all those rules... and I think it''s definitely worth thinking about in advance! A lot of our friends joined us at the restaurant after our rehearsal dinner, so it turned into a LATE night... but my best friend and her sister were sleeping over (in a spare room, to ensure a good night''s sleep!) so they made sure to get me home by midnight and I ended up with about 7 hours sleep, fortunately. I''m prone to stomach problems, so the next day I stuck with bagels and other mild food, and drank LOTS of water... when I get dehydrated, I get all tired and dizzy and irritable.

Also, this is probably TMI, but right before the ceremony I had to pee like 3 times... so I started just shoving a cup under all my layers of dress, rather than trying to squeeze into a tiny bathroom stall. Kind of gross, but it worked!! Don''t knock it ''til you''ve tried it...
2.gif


At the reception, I nursed one glass of champagne all night and ate about 1/3rd of my meal... but I was running on adrenaline anyway. I was STARVING by about 3am though, when we finally went to bed... I would have killed for some pizza or something. So if possible, have a snack put in your hotel room!
Eph, thanks for the tip, even if it is TMI... I have a REALLY nervous bladder, I need to go all the time when I''m nervous, so I was starting to get worried about this!
 
My best advice is to take a moment and enjoy the day. It goes by SOOOO fast and will be over before you know it. Also don''t sweat the small stuff. If something DOES happen before you react think if it will matter to you tomorrow, in a year, in 10 years. Most the time it won''t (besides no one will notice or remember).
 
Date: 7/6/2007 1:19:58 PM
Author: Elmorton
I was married two weeks ago, and that two drink minimum is actually a great idea. I was pretty stone sober at my reception but had the most amazing time. I have a very weak stomach, so I took some immodium in the morning, and then ate a normal-smallish amount for lunch and dinner (we thought having a sweetheart table would mean that we could enjoy a meal together! no such luck), but here''s my tip: ask your caterer to pack up some of your meal - in our case, we knew we wouldn''t be able to enjoy the amazing homemade tortilla chips and salsa from our cocktail hour. Before we were ready to go, our caterer descreetly boxed up some items on our request for us to take back to the hotel. When we got back to our suite, the hotel had strawberries and champagne waiting for us, but we dined on our tortilla chips to make up for the meal we missed. I''ve heard of even asking for the entire meal in boxes - many of my friends say that they never even tasted a bite of their dinner (and actually, i did only get two bites of wedding cake...bummer).
Thanks for the tips! I have a very weak stomach also and knowing that it could be good to load up on immodium is really helpful. I''m super nervous that I''ll be really dehydrated in the potential sweltering heat (we''re having an outdoor ceremony in July). The last thing I want is to get sick.

I''ll definitely have to remember to ask the servers or chefs to pack up some of our h''ors d''ouevres (sp???) or even our food. Great tips!
 
Date: 7/6/2007 12:12:16 PM
Author: So_happy
Great tips! Thank you!!

At my shower last week, I totally learned the no-more-than-two-drinks-per-night rule
9.gif
31.gif
20.gif
32.gif


Now, the cup thing.............may I ask how nervous you were that...uh...you'd miss? (I know........euuuuuuuuuu!!!
14.gif
!......but it sounds so convieient if not for that one teensey worry
2.gif
)
Hehe... well it started because DH and his guys were waiting in the hallway where the bathroom was, so I was trapped in my little waiting room in the church. So I dug around in the closet and found a bunch of styrofoam cups (I'm pretty resourceful when desperate!), which were soft enough to um, conform. So (very TMI to follow... be warned!!!) I stepped into the closet, reached under all the front layers of my dress, pulled aside my nice something-blue undies, squatted a bit... and no mess at all!!
11.gif
31.gif


My bridesmaids were APPALLED, until they realized how well it worked... then several decided to steal that trick for themselves at their upcoming weddings!!
9.gif
 
Great tips, thanks! I generally have NO trouble remembering to eat, but I''m going to designate one of my friends to remind me to EAT the day of. I know I won''t want to, from nerves, but the reception won''t be until at least 7PM, and I really don''t want to pass out.

I''m also getting a massage the morning of. Hopefully it won''t make me toooo relaxed!
 
Date: 7/6/2007 5:11:40 PM
Author: ephemery1

Date: 7/6/2007 12:12:16 PM
Author: So_happy
Great tips! Thank you!!

At my shower last week, I totally learned the no-more-than-two-drinks-per-night rule
9.gif
31.gif
20.gif
32.gif


Now, the cup thing.............may I ask how nervous you were that...uh...you''d miss? (I know........euuuuuuuuuu!!!
14.gif
!......but it sounds so convieient if not for that one teensey worry
2.gif
)
Hehe... well it started because DH and his guys were waiting in the hallway where the bathroom was, so I was trapped in my little waiting room in the church. So I dug around in the closet and found a bunch of styrofoam cups (I''m pretty resourceful when desperate!), which were soft enough to um, conform. So (very TMI to follow... be warned!!!) I stepped into the closet, reached under all the front layers of my dress, pulled aside my nice something-blue undies, squatted a bit... and no mess at all!!
11.gif
31.gif


My bridesmaids were APPALLED, until they realized how well it worked... then several decided to steal that trick for themselves at their upcoming weddings!!
9.gif

And uh, the cup went where, afterwards? I''m assuming there was a sink somewhere in the waiting room...
1.gif
 
Due to some horrid medical tests, I can also tell you that a cut up two litre soda bottle, while certainly not comfortable, reduces your risk of spillage (completely covers the area in question) and overflow.
23.gif
 
Date: 7/6/2007 5:24:07 PM
Author: zoebartlett

Date: 7/6/2007 5:11:40 PM
Author: ephemery1


Date: 7/6/2007 12:12:16 PM
Author: So_happy
Great tips! Thank you!!

At my shower last week, I totally learned the no-more-than-two-drinks-per-night rule
9.gif
31.gif
20.gif
32.gif


Now, the cup thing.............may I ask how nervous you were that...uh...you''d miss? (I know........euuuuuuuuuu!!!
14.gif
!......but it sounds so convieient if not for that one teensey worry
2.gif
)
Hehe... well it started because DH and his guys were waiting in the hallway where the bathroom was, so I was trapped in my little waiting room in the church. So I dug around in the closet and found a bunch of styrofoam cups (I''m pretty resourceful when desperate!), which were soft enough to um, conform. So (very TMI to follow... be warned!!!) I stepped into the closet, reached under all the front layers of my dress, pulled aside my nice something-blue undies, squatted a bit... and no mess at all!!
11.gif
31.gif


My bridesmaids were APPALLED, until they realized how well it worked... then several decided to steal that trick for themselves at their upcoming weddings!!
9.gif

And uh, the cup went where, afterwards? I''m assuming there was a sink somewhere in the waiting room...
1.gif
Haha... good question!! Actually I sealed it with another cup and my mommy disposed of it in the bathroom for me
12.gif
... don''t know if I can ever repay her for that one!!
 
also be prepared not to FEEL like eating! it wasn''t that i forgot, but i really couldn''t eat. addrenaline or nervse or something. but i never would have expected not to want to eat. luckily our reception venue packs up LOTS OF FOOD, CAKE and WINE & CHAMPAGNE in a HUGE ole basket for the bride and groom. we promptly dove right in after we got to the hotel and i got SICK.
14.gif


i also just happily nursed a glass of champange in my fabulous toasting flute all of the reception. oh, and drink plenty of WATER!!! i couldn''t believe how dehydrated we both got after just a day. crazy.

the night before the wedding, not only don''t go out/hangout till all hours of the night with the bridal party and guests, but spend this time with your hubby to be. JUST the two of you. we did and it was one of my FAVORITE moments of the wedding weekend. we got to just be. take it all in. and exchange our wedding gifts with each other and SEE firsthand each other''s reactions. priceless. do it despite all the pressures of everyone else.

also, try to have ALL of your wedding projects done before out of town guests come into town. you think you''ll have time but you don''t. you''ll find that everyone wants to hang out. see the town and what not. more than likely if you don''t complete things before they arrive, you may not finish.
 
Be prepared that things will not go as planned during those 24 hours prior and be ready to let the small stuff just roll of your back (As my mom would say "I''m a duck, quack quack!").

Spend some time with your soon to be hubby alone.

Make sure to get some sleep (even if it''s Tylenol PM induced!).

Drink lots of water.

Relish every moment, it goes by way too fast.
 
Jcrow--good point about getting all the little tasks done before everyone arrives--you are right, if you don''t, they may never get done.
I had welcome baskets for everyone--i was going to ''hand deliver'' to people not staying at the same resort--haha--ya right, it was insane
s-t-r-e-c-h-e-d- is how you''ll feel all weekend. Everyone wants to see/talk/take pics with you--My wedding party made their own drinking game at the ''casual'' rehearsal dinner. Every time some one said "jas" to ask me a question, they drank. The game ended in 5 min b/c they all would have been druck in less than a 1/2 hr.

As for the baskets, luckily my party did it for me, b/c at that point i was like '' i don''t care, i just want the day to happen''
 
If you want things to run on time, practice the things that could slow you down - bustling your gown, adjusting that 100-Ways Victoria Secret Bra, hooking together bracelets or necklaces...stuff like that.
 
Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Top